The Random House Webster's College Dictionary defines bioethics as a field of study and counsel concerned with the implications of certain medical procedures, genetic engineering, and care of the terminally ill. I will be exploring and commenting on how bioethics relates to genetic engineering. Genetic engineering is a branch of biology dealing with the splicing and recombining of genetic units from living organisms, according to Webster's New World Dictionary. I will look at bioethics from the point of view of personal privacy, societal effects, religious concerns, medicinal benefits and legislation.

The topic of genetic engineering stirs up debate

Germans learned a very bitter lesson about eugenics under Hitler's regime and today they have some of the toughest legislative controls of any nation. In Germany Hitler's mistakes have left marks on the German psyche, by this I mean Germans are still afraid of genetic engineering because of Hitler's ruthless Eugenics project that tried to create a master race. An example of this is biochemist Carl-Wihelm Vogel. Vogel had set up a Class 1 Lab (the category denoting the least risk) at Hamburg University's Institute of Biochemistry and Food Chemistry, in order to try to clone the gene that codes for the cobra venom factor, a protein that could prevent the rejection of organ transplants. In most countries this type of genetic research would barely raise an eyebrow; however, German laws is strict;

Vogel ignored these guidelines, so when officials from Hamburg's Environmental Agency were visiting a nearby lab and looked in on Vogel, they put a temporary halt on his research. Vogel eventually filed out the application to carry out his work. In addition, he may have to pay a fine of $60,000 ("Running" 512.)

Pharmaceutical companies were the first to recognize that using cell biology, the functions of a cell could be used to create drugs, which were specific for a problem and had low toxicity. The success in this field has already been spectacular with few, if any adverse consequences. So far we have targeted proteins molecules that are produced by RNA/DNA in response to disease and have battled disease at this level (Gorman 79.)

[it] requires a researcher to get permission from authorities for such a lab, and to wait 2 months between publicly announcing intended experiments and carrying them out-giving authorities a chance to object. ("Running Afoul of German Biotech Regs" 512)

If the fields of biogenetics and ethics can work together, incorporating each other principles the field of biogentics will revolutionize the world and make it better place for all.

In reproductive medicine it is rights of parent that clash with the rights of the embryo. Unfortunately, the embryo is not in a position to protect and defend himself. Theologians say in today's reproductive medicine the right of the parent is in direct conflict with the right of the embryo. Does this generation have the right to change the future of all generations? After all, we in this generation are only one small part in the history of the human race. Do we have the right and or the knowledge to alter the course of the human race? Respect for life in its present form is being destroyed. We are trying create a new race in the test tube. We don't respect the rules and regulations of guerilla and ape tribes, why would this new race respect our norms. We are moving too fast in a very complex area and we may unwittingly commit genocide of the human race. Let us respect our present societal values and preserve them.

Random selection with survival of the fittest results in slow mutative changes, which are usually beneficial. I hope the genetic engineers think of an individual and don't turn him into a freak by endowing some features which they think are beneficial. Even Frankenstein realized that he did not "right for my own benefit to inflict the curses upon on everlasting generations" (Isaacson 43.)

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Approximate Word count = 2814
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page double spaced)